BURIAL AT SEA

BY AL LUBKOWSKI

Ofor such occasions and treated to food, drinks and stories as if part of the family. Since recycling is my forte and philosophy, I consider this an opportunity to be truly useful.

My favourite story from my brief career in ash spreading, is about a widow I will call Suzy who hired me to spread her deceased husband’s ashes in Oak Bay. She proposed a location near his favourite spot, a bench beside Cattle Point where he enjoyed watching sailboats cruising around the bay.

The day for the spreading was near perfect: the skies were blue and the winds were light; just enough to enjoy our sail and blow the ashes away from my boat when scattered. I checked to make sure all was ship-shape, and my stash of tissues would be easy to find when needed.

But all concerns over tears were erased by the happy arrival of my client and her minister who waltzed arm in arm down the ramp at Oak Bay Marina to where my sailboat was moored! Perhaps they were good friends of long association? They were encumbered by a heavilyladen wicker picnic basket which held much promise. When asked if they had everything they needed, Suzy suddenly remembered her husband Freddy’s urn was left behind in the car!

With Freddy retrieved, I remembered thinking that for the first time in this unsolicited business of mine I might actually enjoy myself! As we cruised to the appointed burial spot, Suzy shared a few stories about her deceased husband’s